Lucy ignored Lecorondia, who stood nearby, looking innocent with her hands folded in her lap.

　　Her phone pinged again and again, but before she could read the message, the screen changed—a phone call. She saw Bob`s number and resigned herself to the inevitable. There would be an endless barrage of inquiries that she couldn`t answer. Not to mention the mistakes she needs to take responsibility for. Plus, she had questions of her own to figure out before she answered.

　　She knew he`d been on his way to talk to the prime minister. Would he have arrived already? If so, would she be dealing with her boss or both men? Neither answer appealed, so instead she put on her bravest face. A deep breath later, and she accepted the call.

　　"Miss McCloud?"

　　The questioner`s voice was soft, dangerous, and bore a hint of that private school accent. She`d not heard the voice anywhere off TV, but she supposed it answered her earlier question. Bob had clearly reached his destination.

　　"Mr. Prime Minister, sir," she said, trying to sound as professional as she could.

　　Thoughts swirled about the different ways she could get fired. Her gaze flicked to Lecorondia, who`d drifted toward the van, where she spoke softly with Julep. A twinge of irritation filled her at the sight, but she suppressed it. The ambassador wasn`t her problem right now; besides, she needed to pay attention.

　　"I want to understand exactly what part of keeping this under wraps you found difficult."

　　No anger entered the voice. It sounded as calm and collected as it always did. A tone perfect for addressing the nation, cultivated by a team of media specialists. It caused a shiver to run up her spine.

　　"We didn`t know he was filming, sir." Lucy spoke quickly, doing her best to lay out the facts. "The mission took us to his home because of our belief that he was in danger from the quarry. He passed out, and we aided him. Then we questioned him."

　　"He passed out?" A hint of humor.

　　"Sir. He had an adverse reaction to seeing the ambassador."

　　Lucy refrained from mentioning the way he`d looked at her or the display that Lecorondia had pulled her into. Her cheeks flushed from the thought, and she hoped Jerry would leave it out of the official reports. He would, she was sure; from his stories, it wouldn`t be the first time he`d skipped relevant details.

　　"So he passed out and still captured your interrogation on camera?" The humor was gone again; it vanished as quickly as it had arrived.

　　"Sir?" she asked hesitantly, wondering if she should have checked the texts beforehand.

　　Lecorondia turned and waved to her, still leaning against the van. Lucy narrowed her eyes. She didn`t like how relaxed the alien was.

　　"The video. The video that popped up on my desk showing two of my agents and an alien having a chitchat with a man in his living room! Thank your lucky stars; we got it pulled, but not fast enough. Believe me, Miss McCloud, you don`t want to know what they`re saying about you."

　　The thought—nothing I haven`t heard before—drifted through her mind, but she didn`t dare correct him.

　　"Well, no one believes it, sir?"

　　"Oh, they don`t. Not really. But you know what those internet weirdoes are like. They went digging. Your mother has fielded multiple calls already. Mr. Blacks sent some people to check on her."

　　"Not Jeff?"

　　The question slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself, and she winced. She heard Bob chuckle, and only then did she realize she was on speaker.

　　"Not Jeff," Bob clarified. "Don`t worry. He`s got bigger priorities."

　　"Either way, you`re now a hot topic, and mirrors of the video are being posted faster than we can take them down. We need to get ahead of this, McCloud. Thankfully, my media team has an idea. With your permission?"

　　It wasn`t a question, and she didn`t do it the courtesy of pretending it was one. Lecorondia was still standing near the car, and she spun towards the house, alarmed, as a shrill scream emanated from the house. Lucy bit her lip before refocusing on the conversation. Jerry knew what he was doing.

　　"What would you have me do?"

　　"We need to get out ahead of this today. People outside of his group of stupid alien conspiracy nuts have started asking questions, which means someone offical has to answer them. That means you."

　　There was an edge to his voice she didn`t like—something greasy and manipulative. She glanced towards Lecorondia.

　　"I. Sorry sir. I thought you wanted this kept quiet? How am I meant to answer questions when I`m all the way out here?" Her voice didn`t waver, but it was a close call.

　　Bob answered. "You`ll be going on a new program tonight, you and your alien friend. The Prime Minister has decided we should announce this before some other government gets the idea to move ahead of us."

　　She frowned, turning and moving towards the house, when she heard another shrill cry. It chilled her.

　　"Is that safe? We don`t know what that thing is capable of, and you know people will try and catch it. You`ve seen the photos."

　　"I have," Bob agreed. "It`s a risk I`m happy to take. This is real proof, McCloud. We have to get the scoop on this."

　　"Yes, sir." She wasn`t sure she agreed, but she knew it didn`t matter. The decision was by someone far above her, all she could do was work with it.

　　"Is it somewhere local?"Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

　　"Yes, don`t worry. A couple of hour car trip, nothing major. McCloud?"

　　"Yes, Mr. Black?"

　　"We`ll make sure everything is set up for tonight. Please convince your guest that this is important." She could hear the excitement in his voice as he spoke, and she didn`t blame him.

　　This would be real, tangible proof that he`d not wasted his life on a pipe dream. Something that would change the world, and he`d been at the forefront. Somehow, she didn`t think the prime minister`s media team had pushed this idea.

　　"Of course. You can believe in me."

　　"I know I can. Good luck."

　　With those words, the line went dead. A sigh escaped her, and she turned to beckon Lecorondia over to find her standing inches away from her face. She took a hasty step backwards, the phone almost slipping from her fingers.

　　The ambassador was smiling, her eyes alight with obvious excitement. Her tail swished, and she gestured to the house.

　　"Good news?"

　　Lucy didn`t like the way she asked that question, as though the answer was a forgone conclusion. Still, she did her best to nod as she tried to think of the best way to sell the alien on what exactly she was supposed to do.

　　After a deep breath, she slipped the phone back into her pocket. It buzzed, probably from Mr. Black, sending her additional instructions. She could check those later once she`d gotten this sorted out and checked on Jerry.

　　"How do you feel about being on camera?"

　　The smile on Lecorondia`s face widened until the triangles on her cheeks distorted. There was no denying the look of sheer joy on those alien features, and Lucy shivered as the scaled woman drew her into a hug. Her body was cold and far firmer than it appeared. Not muscular, as if she were hugging a bodybuilder, but more dense like a plank, as though there was no give to her.

　　"Lucy, darling! We are going to excel at whatever performance you have for us. Stick with me, and we`re going to make you a star."

　　Lucy extracted herself as Lecorondia rambled on about clothes and other topics. Her mind raced, and she tried to keep a small smile on her face as she returned to the house. She`d not even told her what they were appearing on, though that hardly mattered. It made her wonder exactly what an alien ambassador did.

　　Either way, she needed to check on Arnold and tell Jerry about the new nonsense Bob had them doing. She was sure he`d have something to say about it, provided nothing had tied him up here.

　　***

　　Jerry was free. Arnold couldn`t say the same.

　　She stopped dead as she looked at the scene in the basement. Camera equipment lay strewn across the floor, lenses cracked. A ripped green sheet lay across the floor, and none of the computers showed any sign of life. In the center of the room, a sobbing Arnold sat strapped to a chair, a bleeding cut across his forehead.

　　Jerry had his back to the stairs and a metal rod in one hand. His shoulders were back, and his posture was stiff as he watched the sobbing man.

　　"Son."

　　"Help!" Arnold yelled. "Help!"

　　"Stop screaming." Jerry didn`t bark the words. His tone remained soft and careful, but there was a deadly undercurrent that made Lucy shiver.

　　Arnold stopped, and Lucy found she couldn`t bring herself to take another step. A breath on the back of her neck told her Lecorondia was behind her, but she ignored that. Her attention fixed on the scene playing out.

　　"Son. I understand why you did what you did. The issue I have is that you involved my partner. Some of your online friends are calling her family. They`re making lewd comments and threats. We can`t have that. Did you know this was going to happen?"

　　Lucy`s breath hitched at the sheer venom in the last question, and Jerry glanced upward. Her heart skipped a beat, fear flooding through her as his cold eyes met hers. She`d never witnessed him like this before. He`d always been the funny old man, not whatever this was. In one smooth motion, he raised a finger to his lips.

　　Behind her, Lecorondia squeezed her shoulder. Though if it was a warning to stay silent or a comfort in the face of what Jerry was doing, she wasn`t sure. Not that she cared. It was nice to have someone there, even someone so alien in the face of this.

　　Arnold stayed quiet, daring to speak only after Jerry`s attention returned to him. When he did, his words came out as a whisper, as though worried anything more might constitute a shout.

　　"People need to know the truth."

　　Jerry sighed. "They don`t, son. If you`ve seen what I have, you`ll know what people do for lies. No, people need to know what`s good for them. Tell me. What do you think is going to happen?"

　　"I will force the government to admit the truth. I`ll be famous, the one who lets it all out."

　　"You`re right. You`re going to be the reason all of this happens. Son. Arnold. The alien attacked you, didn`t it?" His voice went quiet, almost consoling—Lucy hated it.

　　The air in the room stilled as Arnold nodded slowly. He didn`t answer, and there was a deadening in his eyes as though he`d realized something important.

　　"You think people aren`t going to try to capture it? Have you seen it? It`s adorable." Jerry spoke, his words slow and precise. "What do you think it`s going to do to someone who comes at it with more than a camera?"

　　"I didn`t—"

　　"—think?" Jerry cut him off. "Yeah, we know. Now I have good news. There is a good chance the beast is hunting you specifically. That makes you valuable bait, and from what the ambassador says, it doesn`t care much how much its prey wiggles on the plate."

　　Lecorondia snorted softly behind her, and Lucy twitched. She`d said no such thing, but from the way Arnold`s eyes widened, he was hooked on every word.

　　"Now, my boss has been calling me. You`re going to stay here; stay quiet while I find out what questions to ask you. If you do, you`ll remain as live bait. Understand?"

　　Arnold nodded.

　　"Good."

　　Lucy stepped back as he turned and pushed Lecorondia with her as she saw Jerry`s face. There was no smile, no casual air to him. When her eyes met his, she saw a coldness she`d never expected. Her mind defaulted, and she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

　　"Mr. Black has a plan."

　　Jerry nodded as he climbed the first step. "Alright. Shall we speak in the kitchen?"

　　"Of course," Lucy said as she turned.

　　Lecorondia was already halfway there, and Lucy let her go. Instead, she waited to catch up with Jerry, closing the basement door. He leaned on her, and she simply stood and gave him a moment. His thinner form felt so different from that of the ambassadors.

　　"I`m sorry," he whispered.

　　"Don`t be." She did her best to smile as she spoke, though she could see the way he looked at her. He knew it was fake, but the grin he shot back showed he appreciated it. "Come on. You`re going to want a drink in your hand when you hear what the prime minister wants us to do."

　　"The PM called you, lass?"

　　This time it was her turn to nod, and she was grateful to hear a touch of the old humor in his voice. She hadn`t liked what she`d seen, though it didn`t surprise her. He was an old hand, and she knew not every mission he`d gone on had ended clean. Hopefully, this one would be different.

　　As they entered the kitchen, she saw Lecorondia pouring something hot into two mugs. Lucy grimaced as she noticed the stupid alien slogans that adorned each cup. With a nod, the ambassador pushed the mugs towards them.

　　"First time?" She asked, watching Lucy as Jerry took the mug.

　　Lucy took hers only after she`d helped Jerry take a seat. "Not yours?"

　　"Government is a tricky affair. Situations arise. If you`d like, I can have Julep take over?" She directed the question at Jerry, who shook his head.

　　"This isn`t a cleanup or a black bag session. Sorry. I mean—"

　　"I can infer. If you need help, ask. Now, Lucy. You received a call about being on television. I have to admit, I`m excited! Tell me everything!"

　　Jerry raised an eyebrow, and Lucy took a sip.

　　"So, Jerry. How do you feel about being on the news tomorrow?"